Why Autogyros/Gyrocopters didn't "take off"?

[artik]

Today there quite a few autogyros around. Most (if not all production ones) are ultralight like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoGyro_Cavalon (which is by the way so cool)

The have full STOVL capabilities (with some more complexity - VTOL) are much cheaper than helicopter and simpler to operate. Autogyros are considered very safe in case for example of dead stick landing in comparison to aircraft or helicopter.

Before and during WW2 they were actually quite popular.

I think of applications where you need to take to extreme the STOVL capabilities but on the other hand don't pay as much as for helicopter.

What do you think?

BTW this project is very-very cool: http://pal-v.com/

[colmbo]

I think they are noisy, slow, limited payload.  You can stick a Super Cub most places the auto-gyro can operate out of and the wing on the cub is fixed in place like wings are supposed to be. 

[715]

Also, for the STO part of STOL on an autogyro don't you need a complicated system to temporarily power the rotor to get it spinning?

[artik]

Also, for the STO part of STOL on an autogyro don't you need a complicated system to temporarily power the rotor to get it spinning?

Yes and no...

You need a system to get the rotor spinning - it is called pre-rotator - that exists virtually on all autogyros (unless they are such tiny that human pre-rotator is used)

However the system is quite simple and remember it does not operate during the flight. So the fail-safety requirements are much lower and of course the power it requires to transmit is generally much lower.

[BaldEagl]

BTW this project is very-very cool: http://pal-v.com/

That was cool but this is even cooler (watch the video):  http://www.terrafugia.com/tf-x

[artik]

That was cool but this is even cooler (watch the video):  http://www.terrafugia.com/tf-x

Yeah... but Pal V actually flies and according to the company certified for both road and air...

The other one is CGI

[pembquist]

Auto gyros are slow, can't carry much and can't hover. They are pretty nifty things but they just aren't as capable as fixed wing or helicopters.

[save]

My friend is a autogyro instructor.
Its slow and also subject to pilot induced oscillation  for novice pilots, bending its "wing".
Its main advantage is its handling in gusty winds compared with low wingloaded ultralights.